Arsenal Agree Deal for Teen Serbian Striker - Report

Arsenal have agreed terms with Partizan Belgrade for the transfer of Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Metro believes the 18-year-old striker may be loaned out again immediately, to help gain experience of English football before competing in the Gunners' first team.

The Serbian international has had a good season with his present club, scoring 10 goals from 17 Serbian Super Liga starts. His goals led Partizan to the title this year; the club won 23 of 30 games and finished the season with a 5-0 demolition of Spartak Subotica, which Mitrovic sat out.

The Gunners are widely expected to make several big name signings this summer, following the threat of a ninth straight season without any silverware. Arsene Wenger is believed to have £70m to spend but fans are likely to view transfer talk with a pinch of salt... at least until something has been confirmed.

In any case, given the calibre of strikers linked with the Emirates - Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema, Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney - a teenage Serbian forward is probably not the most exciting news. Wenger has also been linked to another youngster - 20-year-old Frenchman Yaya Sanogo - and the Mirror believes a deal is close to completion.

The Gunners were also linked to Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke. The Belgian has admitted he is interested in playing for Arsenal but the Villans' boss, Paul Lambert, is understandably reluctant to release the man whose goals saved the club from relegation this season.

"It is going to take very silly money for Villa to part with Benteke. Clubs who are interested know they will have to break the bank to sign Christian," Lambert stressed.

Meanwhile, Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has revealed there has been no official contact from Arsenal. The Belgian enjoyed a fine season for the Black Cats and was linked with a move to Arsenal.

"I have read about it [the speculation], but I haven't heard anything [official]. I know there has been talk about Arsenal, but I haven't heard anything or received a phone call from Arsène Wenger. I will stay calm and focused on the Belgium games, and after that, go on holiday with my girlfriend. We will see what happens," Mignolet told the Sunderland Echo.